In the midst of one of the worst food crises in decades, Cuba's Vice President, Salvador Valdés Mesa, urged on Wednesday that each municipality in the country become self-sufficient in the production of root vegetables and greens, as part of a strategy for "local food sovereignty."
During the XXI ordinary session of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Güines, Valdés Mesa strongly criticized the dependence on external resources and stated that "there is no justification for municipalities not to be self-sufficient," reported the national television.
According to the senior official, the most effective approach is to contract production directly at the local level, so that each region can ensure the basic foods for its population without relying on central structures.
The vice president's call coincides with an official acknowledgment of the failure of the state apparatus for food production and distribution, recently made public by the Minister of Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, before the Agro-Food Commission of Parliament.
According to the report presented, 17 companies in the sector ended the first half of 2025 with losses amounting to 364 million pesos, and most key food categories—such as milk, meat, coffee, and canned goods—failed to exceed 55% of their production plan targets.
Only the brewing industry managed to surpass its goals.
Among the causes of the disaster were cited the lack of fuel, unpayable debts, the collapse of the fishing industry, and an alarming shortage of essential raw materials such as soybeans, wheat, powdered milk, and oil, whose imports have been virtually nonexistent this year.
Valdés Mesa did not directly address the ministerial balance, but his statements reveal the concern of the country's top leadership about the ineffectiveness of the centralized system.
His proposal for each municipality to be "sovereign in food" points to a forced decentralization due to collapse, rather than a structural redesign of the economic model.
However, the idea is not new. For years, the Cuban government has promoted discourse on "local autonomy" and "productive municipalities," without visible results in the markets or on the citizens' tables.
In practice, municipalities lack legal tools, financial autonomy, resources, and control over the marketing of their productions.
Additionally, decisions regarding pricing, distribution, and procurement remain under the control of national agencies.
The Minister of Food Industry himself acknowledged that 25% of national production now relies on the private sector, and that over 2,300 contracts have been signed with new non-state economic actors, due to the inability of state enterprises to maintain the basic supply.
For millions of Cubans, the exhortations from the assemblies and calls for self-sufficiency contrast sharply with the daily reality of empty markets, unaffordable prices, and increasing malnutrition.
The production figures and ministerial reports confirm what the population is already experiencing: the food crisis is not temporary, but rather structural and prolonged.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Food Crisis and Self-Sufficiency in Cuba
Why does Salvador Valdés Mesa call for municipalities to become self-sufficient in Cuba?
Salvador Valdés Mesa urges municipalities to be self-sufficient in the production of root vegetables and greens debido a la grave crisis alimentaria que atraviesa el país. La propuesta busca reducir la dependencia de recursos externos, aunque enfrenta obstáculos significativos por la falta de autonomía financiera y legal de los municipios. Esta iniciativa refleja un reconocimiento del fracaso del sistema centralizado en garantizar la seguridad alimentaria.
What are the main challenges faced by food production in Cuba?
Food production in Cuba faces issues such as a lack of fuel, unpayable debts, a collapse in fishing, and shortages of essential raw materials like soybeans, wheat, powdered milk, and oil. Furthermore, the regulatory framework limits decentralization, and the lack of incentives affects local producers, exacerbating the food crisis on the island.
What impact has the Food Sovereignty Law had in Cuba?
Despite being approved in 2022, the Food Sovereignty Law has not managed to reverse the food crisis in Cuba. The lack of supplies, the centralization of decision-making, and the absence of real incentives for producers have prevented this law from having a positive impact on national production and on the food security of the population.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the proposals for municipal self-sufficiency?
The Cuban population has received the proposals for municipal self-sufficiency with scepticism and discontent, seeing them as an attempt by the government to shirk responsibility for the food crisis. Criticism focuses on the lack of resources and real autonomy for municipalities to successfully implement these measures.
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